Hey everyone! Did you enjoy Glee last night? I know I did! The Finchel phone call was so sweet and Don't Stop Believing was just perfect! I'm just sad this is it for Finchel for this season! And we got a nice Rachel/ Shelby scene too, something I've wanted for a while!

So, here's the first chapter of the holiday season. At the end, you'll know why I decided to make the holidays two chapters. Hope you enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue!

Chapter 6: Christmas Decorations

"And the winners of this year's Sectionals - from Cleveland Heights-University Heights High School, the Gold Stars!"

Finn felt a huge sense of relief come over him as the head judge handed him the trophy. He looked into the stands, where Rachel was making a heart with her hands, and winked at her. He then looked at the kids on stage. Ryan and Ava were hugging, as were Nick and Emma. He then looked back in the stands, where Rupert looked dumbfounded.

"I was worried we were on our way out," Ava said as the group walked back to their waiting room. "I mean, our finish at Nationals wasn't the best."

"I think we sounded better than we ever did last year," Nick added.

"I'm really proud of you guys," Finn said.

"So am I," a voice said. Finn turned and saw Rachel.

"Mrs. Hudson!" Lizzie exclaimed. "We've missed you."

"I miss you guys, too," Rachel said.

"I wish you could both be our coaches," Lexie said.

"So do I," Laura added.

Finn put his arm around Rachel. He knew that Rachel knew more about performing and music than anyone he knew, but it meant a lot to him that the kids liked working with him.

"So now that we've won Sectionals, have you picked out our songs for the holiday assembly?" Laura asked Finn.

Finn realized he hadn't yet. "I'll tell you guys at practice on Monday."

"We're still having a pizza party at your guys' house, right?" Izzy asked.

"Of course!" Rachel said. As the kids went off on their own, Rachel turned to Finn. "They did a great job. I'm so proud of you."

Finn kissed Rachel on the head. "You have helped me a lot."

"Seeing them sing songs we did reminded me of our New Directions days," Rachel said.

"I know," Finn told his wife.

x

Emma felt a little sensitive about having the party at her house. With her mom recovering from surgery, the family had been a bit preoccupied, and their house wasn't quite in the Christmas spirit like it usually was at Christmas time.

"No tree yet?" Ava asked Emma.

"No, hopefully we'll get one this weekend," Emma said. "Things have just been so out of the ordinary since my mom had her surgery."

"You should ask your dad to get one this weekend," Meg said.

"He has so much on his mind already," Emma admitted.

The girls reached for some more pizza. Unknown to them, the boys were having a similar conversation.

"Your house is usually the most festive out of all of ours," Ben said to Ryan.

"I know," Ryan said. "It's just that there's so much going on lately."
"I understand," Nick said. "The Christmas after my mom died, we didn't get our tree until Christmas Eve. Kyle and I had to force our dad out."

"Hopefully we'll get our stuff soon," Ryan said. Christmas was usually such a special time for the Hudson family.

x

Rachel was resting upstairs. Spending the day at Sectionals had been tiring. Finn came into their room. "These are good kids, I don't think they need much supervision," Finn said.

"It's like I said, you did a great job," Rachel said. "Finn, I was thinking, since we usually go to New York for Thanksgiving and everyone came here this year, we should go there for Christmas this year."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Finn asked.

"I'll call my dads and my mom and your parents and see if they'd be willing to go to New York," Rachel said. "It wouldn't really be fair to have two holidays in Cleveland. Especially because Kurt and Blaine would have to travel for all three holidays."

"Okay," Finn said. The look on Finn's face told Rachel he didn't think traveling for Christmas was a good idea, but he had always been protective of her.

x

"Emma! Get up!" The next morning, Emma opened her eyes and saw Ryan, Nick, and Ava in her room.

Emma looked at her clock and noticed that it was six in the morning. How had Nick and Ava even gotten in the house?

"What's going on?" Emma asked.

"I have no idea," Ryan said. "They came into my room first."

"Just get on your clothes," Nick said. "We've got to go."

"I don't understand," Emma said. "How'd you get in?"

Ryan and Ava exchanged a guilty look. "I did give her a copy of the key to our house."

"Okay," Emma said. Wondering what her boyfriend and best friend were dragging her and her brother into, Emma pulled on her clothes and went downstairs, where Ryan, Ava and Nick were waiting.

"Both our groups of friends were talking, and we want to make sure you guys could have a good Christmas," Nick said.

"Come on, we're getting a tree," Ava said. "We all pooled our money together, and we're going to get the best one we possibly can."

Emma exchanged a shocked look with Ryan. She didn't know what to say. Luckily, Ryan spoke. "Are you sure tree farms are open at this hour?"

"I'm sure," Nick said. "I looked some up online. Come on. We've got to get a tree and get it decorated before your parents and siblings are up."

Emma smiled wide and gave her boyfriend and best friend a hug. "You guys are the best!"

As they started to leave, Emma heard footsteps coming downstairs. She whispered to Nick, Ava and Ryan to get outside quick, telling them she'd cover for them.

Finn came into the kitchen. "Emma, what are you doing?"

"I have a headache," Emma lied. "I noticed we were out of tylenol, so Ryan's giving me a ride to Walgreen's to pick some up."

"Okay then," Finn said. "If you're not feeling well, you should get back to bed when you get home."

"I will," Emma said. She got into the car as Ryan drove them to a nearby tree farm that opened at 6:30 in the morning. Within about fifteen minutes of arriving, they found a nine foot blue spruce tree.

"We should get this one," Ryan said.

"We all pooled ten dollars, so we do have over a hundred dollars," Nick said.

Emma snuggled into her boyfriend. "I can't believe you did this for us."

Nick gave Emma a kiss. "Of course we did."

"Yeah, we love you guys," Ava said.

A tree salesman came over. "Are you guys interested in that tree?"

"Yes, please," Nick spoke for Ryan and Emma.

"It's $75," the salesman said.

"Wow, this way you guys can get some of your money back," Ryan said.

"No money back," Nick said. "We'll use the rest of the money to get garland and a wreath for you guys."

"Are you serious?" Emma asked, barely knowing what to say.

"Yes, we're sure," Ava said.

The four of them bought the tree, some garland and a wreath and then drove back to the Hudsons' house. They tried to be as quiet as they could as they snuck in with the decorations. Ava and Emma put the wreath on the door and strung the garland around the railing of the stairs while Ryan and Nick went downstairs to get the stand for the tree, as well as the lights and the ornaments. When they got back, the four of them got the tree into its stand and began putting the lights and ornaments on. Then, Emma heard more footsteps coming downstairs. The four of them exchanged looks, beginning to panic. They wanted everyone to be surprised.

"What are you doing?" a voice said. Emma looked and saw that it was Sarah.

"Hey," Emma whispered to her sister. "Just don't wake up Mom and Dad and Grant and Zoe."

"You got a tree?" Sarah asked, looking excited.

"We couldn't let your family not have one," Ava said.

"Can I help?" Sarah asked.

Ryan smiled at his sister. "Of course."

A little while later, Sarah, Ryan, Ava, Nick and Emma had finished decorating the tree and had set up the other Christmas decorations around the house and in the yard. They were sitting downstairs on the couch when Finn and Rachel came downstairs hand in hand. Emma looked at her parents, noticing how surprised both of them looked.

"What did you guys do?" Finn asked, looking so happy.

"Nick and Ava came to our house at six in the morning," Ryan said. "And they dragged us to a tree farm to get a tree."

"We got Evan, Ben, Connor, Ricky, Jeremy, Izzy, Laura, Lizzie, Meg and Lexie to pool our money together," Nick explained. "And then Ava and I woke up Ryan and Emma and took them to the tree farm."

"We wanted you guys to have a great Christmas," Ava added.

Rachel looked around. "Thank you so much. Our kids are so lucky to have great friends like you."

"We are," Emma said, snuggling up to her boyfriend.

Finn turned to Sarah. "You were in on it, too?"

"Well, I caught them," Sarah said. "And they let me help decorate."

"Thank you," Rachel said, hugging Nick and Ava.

"We should go get Grant," Finn said.

"Thank you," Emma whispered to Nick. This was the best Christmas surprise ever.

x

"How much longer until we're there?" Grant whined. The Hudson family was driving to New York since they thought it would be hard for Rachel to fly.

Emma looked at the GPS. "It shouldn't be much longer."

"Believe me, Grant, I'm excited to get there too," Sarah said. "Uncle Kurt's taking Emma and me to see the Rockettes tonight."

"I just wish that I could go with you guys," Rachel said.

"You can watch the Jets game with me, Ryan, Blaine, Michael and Brendan," Finn teased his wife.

Rachel groaned. "I'll sit there while you watch it."

"Santa will find us in New York, right?" Grant asked.

"Of course," Ryan told his brother.

x

"You guys made it!" Brendan said as the Hudson family came into the Hummel-Andersons' apartment.

"We did," Emma said, hugging her cousin. "Are your dads home?"

"Of course we are!" Blaine said, coming into the living room.

"Thanks for letting us come here for Christmas," Finn said to his brother-in-law. "Where's Kurt?"

"Getting Michael from basketball practice," Brendan said.

"Finn, my back hurts from the drive, can we go to the hotel?" Rachel asked. Maybe driving to New York hadn't been such a good idea. Maybe they should have just stayed in Cleveland.

Finn gave Rachel a look that told her he knew something wasn't quite right. "Sure."

"Don't you guys want to wait until Kurt gets back?" Blaine asked.

"Plus, it would be nice if you were here when Grandma, Grandpa and Ally get here," Brendan added.

"I just need to rest my back," Rachel said. She could tell that Finn was worried, but she didn't want to worry Blaine and the kids, too.

"We'll be back soon," Finn told Blaine. When they left the apartment, Finn turned to Rachel. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I had surgery a few weeks ago, Finn," Rachel moaned. As they left the apartment, she noticed that it was very snowy and icy. She held on to Finn's arm to avoid slipping, but when he slipped, she went down, too.

Chapter 7 preview: Has Rachel further injured her back? If she has, can the Hudsons still have a nice Christmas in New York with Klaine and their family?